Competitive light athletic game with soft, compact, orbiting ball



Nov. 16, 1965 o. v. FROST 3,218,073

COMPETITIVE LIGHT ATHLETIC GAME WITH SOFT. COMPACT, QRBITING BALL FiledSept. 15, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 INVENTOR.

' DOUGLAS V. FRos'r Nov. 16, 1965 v 3,218,073

. FROST COMPETITIVE LIGHT ATHLE GAME WITH SOFT, COMPACT, ORBITING BALLFiled Sept. 15, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DoueLAs V. FRosTCOMPETITIVE LIGHT ATHLETIC GAME WITH SOFT. COMPACT, ORBI'IING BALL FiledSept. 15, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. DOUGLAS V. F2051 United StatesPatent Office 3,218,073 Fatented Nov. 16, 1965 3,218,073 COMPETITIVELIGHT ATHLETIC GAME WITH SGFT, COMPACT, ORBITING BALL Douglas V. Frost,518 1st St., Waukegan, Ill. Filed Sept. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 138,319 4Claims. (Cl. 273-95) My invention relates to games of skill and agility,and includes among its objects and advantages an extension of theusefulness of the game commonly called tetherball or tether tennis intoone requiring much less strength and athletic prowess, and greateragility and coordination than was previously involved. As at presentplayed, these early tether ball games employ a ball large enough andheavy enough to inflict injury if it happens to strike the face or someother sensitive part of one of the players, and that restricts its use.The possibility of play on the same principle with a ball such thataccidental impact becomes substantially innocuous, not only extends itsfield of usefulness to a much larger number of players, but inducesplayers of athletic prowess sufficient for strenuous play to cultivateadditional dexterity and adaptability.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an outdoor standard equipped for playing.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective of the unit with a standard only about half ashigh;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective of the supporting base;

FIGURE 4 is a partial section of a joint in the standard of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the supporting base pan with certain of theparts stowed inside it for packaging;

FIGURE 6 is a section in a vertical plane on line 66 of FIGURE 5 of thepan and pole only;

FIGURE 7 is a detail section on line 77 of FIGURE 3 indicating theinterengagement of the pole with the braces;

FIGURE 8 is a detail section on line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 indicating amodified construction for the braces;

FIGURE 9 is a view of the ball itself, partly in section, indicating onemethod of attaching a tension cord;

FIGURE 10 is a similar section indicating a different cord attachment;

FIGURE 11 is a section indicating a singlepass cord attachment;

FIGURE 12 is a similar section with a diiferent type of fastening;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged detail of the tension cord I of FIGURE 11 atthe point where it enters the ball, and

FIGURE 14 is a plan diagram of the playing area.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the standard 10is a tubular metal pole ten or twelve feet high and one-half inch inoutside diameter.

As indicated in FIGURE 4 it is made up of an upper section 12 and alower section 14 suitably joined, as by welding to section 14 a dowel 18having a portion 16 removably inserted in the upper section 12 of thepole. The dowel 18 carries an eye 20 at its top and when the section 12is removed, as indicated in FIGURE 2, the eye 20 receives a tension cord22 carrying a ball 24 at its outer end. When the section 12 is also inplace a similar eye 26 at the top of the section 12 is used to afiix theend of a longer supporting cord 28 carrying the ball 24 at its outerend.

To support the standard dependably without having to imbed it in theground, I provide a large pan 30 having a central socket 32 adapted toreceive the lower end of the pole section 14. The pan has a peripheralportion 34 in its bottom and a portion inside that at 36 lying at ahigher level, with a slight depression at 38 in the center where the cup32 is fastened in place. The pan has a high side wall 40 so that sand orbricks or any other heavy material conveniently available, may be piledin or on it to give it sufficient stability to carry the working loadduring play.

The side wall 40 carries an outwardly turned lip 42. To brace the pole10 to the pan I provide an upper cross brace 44 and a lower cross brace46. The cross piece 44 has a short horizontal central portion 48 with aturned down lip 50 to receive the section 14 in slideable engagement. Oneither side of the horizontal portion 48, straight diagonal braces 52extend down and terminate in horizontal feet 54 detachably bolted at 56to the rim of the pan. The lower cross brace 46 is in a vertical planeat right angles to the vertical plane of the cross brace 44 and is ofidentical construction and engages the pole section 14 and the uppercross brace firmly.

It will be obvious that the rigidity of the straight diagonal braces 52can be greatly increased by turning their edges down as indicated at 58in FIGURE 8.

The braces 44 and 46 are of sufficient resilience so that when they areunbolted from the pan they can be flexed enough to let their ends nestinside the wall 40 of the pan, as indicated in FIGURE 5. This leavesadditional room to house a pair of paddles 60 (see FIG- URE 5), and asmall envelope 62 can hold the bolts for fastening the braces in place.Two balls 24 and their tension members 28 are also indicated.

To secure the required degree of safety and at the same time provide anactive and interesting game, the size and density or specific gravity ofthe ball and the flexibility of its attachment to the pole are critical.Designating the diameter of the ball as D and the specific gravity ofthe ball as sp. gr., I have found, after a long series of tests andexperiments, that an optimum size of the ball is a diameter of 1 /2inches, provided the specific gravity is 0.5. Of course, it is alsoessential that the ball have a very live bounce. I have found thatsponge rubber balls having approximately the desired size and densityare available on the market, but not for such uses. With sponge rubber,it is possible to secure desirable results with a diameter as small asthree-fourths of an inch, but at all sizes from 1 /2 inches down toinch, an average density of 0.5 gives substantially optimum results. Ifthe ball is made up with an air space at the center, compensatingincrease in the specific gravity of the solid portion of the ball wouldbe in order, so that the aero-dynamic resistance of the ball tomovement, and its gross weight, would remain substantially unchanged.The same applies with equal force to a completely hollow, inflated ball.

It is possible to play with larger balls, but in that case there shouldbe a reduction in the average specific gravity so that the gross weightwill not be increased substantially. An effective criterion forsuccessful use is that for diameters of 1 /2" or more the product of thediameter multiplied by the specific gravity should not exceed about0.90.

A ball larger than 1%" in diameter, according to the foregoingspecification, will be just a little more retarded by windage in play,and just a little bit softer to off-set its larger size, and just alittle bit less resilient in terms of the height to which it will bouncewhen dropped on the ground. For use by persons over 60 years old, forinstance, such a relatively slow ball facilitates a less rapidfire game.A similar reduction in speed can be secured with a ball of any smallerdiameter, by reducing the weight of the ball. Another Way to slow downthe game to any desired degree is to enlarge the diameter of the tensionmember, especially near its outer end.

The attachment of the tension cord 28 to the ball is a mechanicalconnection that undergoes very severe conditions of service. Onesuitable attachment is indicated in FIGURE 9, where the braided tensioncord 28 is passed diametrically through the ball and then brought backaround one side of the ball as indicated at 64 and knotted to thetension reach at the point 66. The reach 64 should be drawn tight enoughto imbed itself slightly in the material of the ball, but this can bedone without changing the spherical form of the ball enough to interferewith play.

In FIGURE '10 the cord passes through the ball diametrically, but thereturn reach 68 is shorter and is knotted to a companion reach 70 sothat the two reaches span 180 with respect to the ball but can beknotted at 72 at a point spaced away from the ball by varying distances,up to about /s of the ball diameter. This increases the Windage on theball and reduces its speed somewhat. It has the advantage that thestraight portions of the reaches 68 and 70 receive a good many of theimpacts from the paddle edge when the ball is struck at an odd angle,and thus the wear is distributed and much longer life is secured for thetension cord 28, compared with the construction of FIGURE 9 where manysuch impacts will be received in a much more nearly transverse directionat points close to the ball.

In FIGURE 11 the same cord 28 is passed diametrically through the ball24 and knotted at its end to form an enlargement 74 which will bepartially embedded within the contours of the ball, and may be suitablyfastened in place, as by adhesive.

The fastening indicated in FIGURE 12 appears to be able to survive moresevere service over a much longer period of time.

One strand of cord is passed down through the ball and up again, to formtwo reaches 76, connected by a bight '78. A different cord, which neednot be of the same size, is similarly put in, in a plane at right anglesto that of the reaches 76, forming two more reaches 8%) at the cornersof a square. All four are braided at 88 for about or ball diameters, andone of the reaches can be continued up to the standard.

Additional protection against wear, combined with increased windage canbe desirably secured according to FIGURE 13. At its entrance into theball 24, the tension member 28 passes through a disc 82 of solid, toughrubber, glued to the ball 24. This prevents the member 28 from cuttinginto the material of the ball 24 and gradually tearing out a taperedhole.

The braided hollow fabric sleeve 84 ending at 8% is also provided. Thisfits loosely over the member 28 so that contact with the paddle edge isby the sleeve, and if there is any sawing movement of the paddle edge,the sleeve can twist a little and distribute the wear. The extra windagedue to the sleeve is concentrated close to the hall, where itseffectiveness is maximum.

The problem of visibility is always present because of the high speedand relatively small diameter of the ball. I prefer to form the ball ofa light pink, bright red, or orange color and to ornament it with white,yellow and blue areas such as those indicated at 2.00 in FIG- URE 9. Itwill be obvious that a wide variety of color schemes and ornamentationmay be used to secure maximum visibility according to well knownprinciples of optics and physiology.

The half length standard of FIGURE 2 is too low for outdoor play, but itcan be set on a table or similar support in the center of a good sizedroom and used for indoor play.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditionsof service by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed, orequivalents thereof.

When experienced players are rather evenly matched, the play sometimesextends indefinitely, if a complete winding up is the criterion ofvictory. One mechanical expedient to prevent this is a removable sleeveto enlarge the diameter on which the cord winds up to l" or 1 /2. Thisresults in a relatively brief sudden death contest. Without structuralchange a time limit can be set, and when the whistle blows, the playerwho has one or more turns of line wound on in his direction becomes thewinner.

For an indoor game with the standard set on a table, poles from 4 to 6feet high are quite satisfactory. With the bottom of the pole at aboutthe level of the feet of the players, desirable heights are from 8 feetup to or feet.

For a A ball an l8-pound test fishing line is satisfactory, and has anapparent diameter of about 4 of an inch. A ball 1 /2" in diameter of thesame density weighs eight times as much and Works well with a 50- poundline which has a diameter of about of an inch, or, for strenuous play, al-pound line with a diameter of about of an inch. Lines exceeding thesediameters by percent or so slow down the game a little but not enough tospoil it.

It will be obvious that the speed of the game can be varied over a widerange to suit the age and agility of the players by varying the size ofthe ball and the diameter of the cord. All the particular sizesmentioned can be used without danger of injury to the players.

With a standard of 15 feet or more, the trajectory of the ball withinreach of a player standing on the ground extends out far enough to makeit practical to play doubles.

In singles it is best to divide the playing area diametrically into twoequal parts. Doubles may be played free style or with the court dividedinto quadrants. In either instance, it seems desirable to have thedivision a narrow lane I92 (see FIGURE 14) defined by parallel linesspaced apart from about 20 to about 36, and to have a foul ruleprohibiting the players from stepping into the lanes.

Athletic players can, if they make a special efiort to do so, impel theball with about the speed of a hard hit tennis ball, but to keep theball away from an opponent effectively, it is necessary to keeppossession by hitting the ball on each complete orbit. Accuracy ingetting the orbit into a plane where it goes too high for the opponentto reach it, and comes back down for another stroke by the player whohit it last, seems a more effective strategy than a power drive. Thereseems to be no power drive possible that will keep the ball away fromones opponent for two complete orbits, because the windage on both cordand ball increases as the square of the speed.

As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of myinvention, I desire to claim the following subject matter:

it. Equipment for playing a competitive light athletic game requiringdexterity and agility, comprising, in combination: a vertical standard 8to 20 feet high; a tension cord of minimum diameter and wind resistance;one end of said cord being non-rotatably afiixed to said standardadjacent its upper end; a ball afiixed to the other end of said cord andadapted to circle the point of contact between cord and standard andwrap or unwrap said cord,

depending on the direction of its orbital travel; said cord being lessin length than the height of its point of attachment to said standard;impelling implements adapted to be held for striking by one hand only;each implement having two ball-contacting striking areas facing inopposite directions; said ball having a diameter not greater than twoinches and not less than three quarters of an inch; said range ofdiameters being divisible into a first subrange extending from .75 inchto 1.5 inches and a second subrange extending from 1.5 inches to 2inches, the average density of balls having diameters within said firstsubrange being on the order of .5, and the average density of ballshaving diameters within said second subrange also being on the order of.5; said ball yielding on impact by an impelling implement, with a localdistortion having a load-distortion ratio about that of a sponge rubbersphere of uniform density of one half; and an at least approximatelyeven and level playing terrain around said standard extending radiallyin all directions at least as far as the length of said tension cord.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 in combination with means subdividingsaid terrain into an even number of equal sectors not exceeding four,separated from each other by radial foul lanes of substantial width.

3. Equipment according to claim 2 in which the point of attachment ofsaid cord to said standard is high enough so that, as long as the pointof departure of said cord from said standard remains in an upper zone ofelevation extending from the point of attachment of said cord only partway down said standard, said ball may be impelled in either rotationalsense, from any one of said sectors in an inclined orbit around saidstandard at or near the point of departure of said cord from saidstandard, said orbit lying above and out of reach of an opposing playerin an adjacent sector.

4. Equipment for playing a competitive, light athletic game requiringdexterity and agility, comprising, in combination: a vertical standard 8to 20 feet high; a tension cord of minimum diameter and wind resistance;one end of said cord being non-rotatably aflixed to said standardadjacent its upper end; a ball afiixed to the other end of said cord andadapted to circle the point of contact between cord and standard andwrap or unwrap said cord, depending on the direction of its orbitaltravel; said cord being less in length than the height of its point ofattachment to said standard; impelling implements adapted to be held forstriking with one hand only; each implement having two ball-contactingstriking areas facing in opposite directions; said ball having adiameter not greater than two inches and not less than three quarters ofan inch; said range of diameters being divisible into a first subrangeextending from .75 inch to 1.5 inches and a second subrange extendingfrom 1.5 inches to 2 inches,

' DELBERT the average density of balls having diameters within saidfirst subrange being on the order of .5, and the average density ofballs having diameters within said second subrange also being on theorder of .5; said ball yielding on impact by an impelling implement,with a local distortion having a load-distortion ratio about that of asponge rubber sphere of uniform density of one half; an at leastapproximately even and level playing terrain around said standardextending radially in all directions at least as far as the length ofsaid tension cord; and means subdividing said terrain into four equalsectors separated from each other by radial foul lanes of substantialwidth; the point of attachment of said cord to said standard being highenough so that, as long as the point of departure of said cord from saidstandard remains in an upper zone of elevation, extending from the pointof attachment of said cord only part way down said standard, said ballmay be impelled in either rotational sense, from any one of saidsectors, in an inclined orbit around said standard, said orbit beinginclined and lying above and out of reach of an opposing player in anadjacent sector, While passing over said adjacent sector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS10/ 1952 Great Britain.

B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

I. PLAUT, Assistant Examiner.

1. EQUIPMENT FOR PLAYING A COMPETITIVE LIGHT ATHLETIC GAME REQUIRINGDEXTERITY AND AGILITY, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A VERTICAL STANDARD 8TO 20 FEET HIGH; A TENSION CORD OF MINIMUM DIAMETER AND WIND RESISTANCE;ONE END OF SAID CORD BEING NON-ROTATABLY AFFIXED TO SAID STANDARDADJACENT ITS UPPER END; A BALL AFFIXED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CORD ANDADAPTED TO CIRCLE THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN CORD AND STANDARD ANDWRAP OR UNWRAP SAID CORD, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION OF ITS ORBITALTRAVEL; SAID CORD BEING LESS IN LENGTH THAN THE HEIGHT OF ITS POINT OFATTACHMENT TO SAID STANDARD; IMPELLING IOMPLEMENTS ADAPTED TO BE HELDFOR STRIKING BY ONE HAND ONLY; EACH IMPLEMENT HAVING TWO BALL-CONTACTINGSTRIKING AREAS FACING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; SAID BALL HAVING ADIAMETER NOT GREATER THAN TWO INCHES AND NOT LESS THAN THREE QUARTERS OFAN INCH; SAID RANGE OF DIAMETERS BEING DIVISIBLE INTO A FIRST SUBRANGEEXTENDING FROM .75 INCH TO 1.5 INCHES AND A SECOND SUBRANGE EXTENDINGFROM 1.5 INCHES TO 2 INCHES, THE AVERAGE DENSITY OF BALLS HAVINGDIAMETERS WITHIN SAID FIRST SUBRANGE BEING ON THE ORDER OF .5, AND THEAVERAGE DENSITY OF BALLS HAVING DIAMETERS WITHIN SAID SECOND SUBRANGEALSO BEING ON THE ORDER OF .5; SAID BALL YIELDING ON IMPACT BY ANIMPELLING IMPLEMENT, WITH A LOCAL DISTORTION HAVING A LOAD-DISTORTIONRATIO ABOUT THAT OF A SPONGE RUBBER SPHERE OF UNIFORM DENSITY OF ONEHALF; AND AN AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY EVEN AND LEVEL PLAYING TERRAINAROUND SAID STANDARD EXTENDING RADIALLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS AT LEAST ASFAR AS THE LENGTH OF SAID TENSION CORD.